Regional Seas Activities

On-going 2007 MoU Activities

1. Seamounts, Deep-sea Corals and Fisheries

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Department of Nature, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Netherlands and the Census of Marine Life (CoML) launched a publication entitled "Seamounts, deep-sea corals and fisheries". This publication summarizes the distribution of large seamounts and deep-water seamount fisheries, the vulnerability of communities living on seamounts to impacts by deep-water fishing and gaps in the development of risk assessments to seamount biota.

2. Global Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs

International Maritime Organization (IMO), the London Convention and 96 Protocol Secretariat was supported towards the development of global guidelines for the placement of artificial reefs. The guidelines would assist governments and national authorities, especially in developing countries in the wise management of their marine and coastal ecosystems.

3. Invasive Alien Species - A rowing threat in Regional Seas

Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) produced a brochure entitled “Invasive Alien Species – a growing threat in Regional Seas” which outlines the threat and impact of invasive alien species, possible management action and role of the RSP as a platform for action on marine and coastal invasive alien species.

4. Sustainable Management of Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas (EAS/RCU)

East Asian Seas has been supported towards the preparation of a Review Document on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas Region, preparation of a ‘Framework Document’ for a Regional Plan of Action on the Sustainable Management of Marine Litter and the organization of a regional meeting of national authorities and experts on marine litter.

5. Shark Depredation

ELG Environmental Services was supported to develop a study aimed to benefit those pelagic longline fleets that do not want to catch sharks and want to reduce shark depredation. The scope of this study was to identify effective and commercially viable methods to reduce shark interactions, and does not directly address issues related to achieving the long-term sustainable use of shark populations and full utilization of sharks.

6. Mangroves of West Africa (Abidjan Convention)

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) was supported to develop an electronic publication of the UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series report entitled “Mangroves of West Africa”.

7. National Dugong Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for Indonesia

Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), was supported to support the development of activities related to Dugong conservation and management initiative. Under the LoA, CMS is supposed to help in establishment of a National Dugong Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for Indonesia and also develop a pilot project in one of the states across Dugong’s migratory range.

8. Guidelines on the use of Market based Instruments to Address the Problem of Marine Litter

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) was supported to develop "Practical and Operational Guidelines on the use of Market Based Instruments to Address the Problem of Marine Litter".

South-East Pacific (CPPS) was supported towards the development of activities related to their Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter.

10. Marine Mammal Workshop in the South-East Pacific (CPPS)

CPPS was supported to develop the final edition of the publication on the Marine Mammal Workshop held in November 2006 in Colombia.

11. Regional Overview of the Marine Litter Action Plan in the Black Sea

Black Sea was supported to finalize the printing and distribution of the final copy of the publication ‘Regional Overview of the Marine Litter Action Plan’.

12. Marine Litter Regional Activity for NOWPAP

North-West Pacific (NOWPAP) was supported through an Mou to further development and implementation of the Marine Litter Regional Activity.

13. Caspian Marine Litter Status and Strategy

Supported the Caspian Sea with funds to assist in editing 1st draft of the "Caspian Marine Litter Status and Strategy document" received by Regional Seas.

14. Marine Litter Regional Action Plan

Black Sea was supported towards the development and implementation of the Marine Litter Regional Action Plan.

15. Marine Litter Regional Action Plan in the PERSGA Region

Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region (PERSGA) was supported towards the development of activities for implementation as follow-up to the previous MoU between PERSGA and UNEP on marine litter. The objective of this MoU was to enhance public awareness on the importance of beach cleanups and impact of litter; and also to clean up mainland beaches from litter and garbage.

16. Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment (GRAME)

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO was supported to undertake the joint work to be carried out by IOC on the Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment (GRAME) and UNEP’s Global Initiative on Marine Litter.

17. COBSEA Regional Marine Litter Workshop for the Seas of East Asia

COBSEA was supported to develop a regional strategy to address marine litter, as a part of UNEP's Global Initiative on Marine litter. Regional Seas Coordinator attended the workshop "COBSEA Regional Marine Litter Workshop for the Seas of East Asia; Jakarta, Indonesia 8-10 May 2007".

18. 1st Meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Protocol

Regional Seas Coordinator represented UNEP in the IMO 30th Meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Convention and the 1st Meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Protocol, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruňa Spain, 18-22 June 2007. UNEP’s involvement and contribution to the LC and its SG has increased dramatically since then, with the latest establishment of a global partnership between the Regional Seas, the London Convention and the GPA during the IGR-2 in Beijing, Oct. 2006.

19. Overview of the Status of Marine Litter in UNEP’s Assisted Regional Seas

Ocean Conservancy, was supported to assist in the synthesis of the document “An Overview of the Status of Marine Litter in UNEP’s Assisted Regional Seas”, by supervising the analysis of the Regional Review, and Regional Action Plan documents prepared in the eleven pilot Regional Seas for the Marine Litter Activity. The document will provide clear information on the scale, sources, gaps, needs and recommended priorities to address the problem of marine litter at the global level as well as in the eleven Regional Seas that participated in the ML activities during the last two years.

20. Strategy on Integrated Management of Marine Litter in the Mediterranean Region

Mediterranean Action Plan Regional Coordinating Unit (MAP/RCU), was supported towards the update of MAP’s Regional Marine Litter Assessment document and the development of a Regional Strategy on Integrated Management of Marine Litter in the Mediterranean Region alongside organizing a regional meeting of national authorities and experts. This strategy, which is a follow up activity which we have developed with MAP, eventually will become a part of MAP’s Programme of Work

The Regional Seas hosted a workshop in Nairobi, which among other things aimed to discuss UNEP’s oceans and coasts activities within the wider UN framework and to come to a common understanding of the strengths and institutional settings that provide the boundary conditions for the new UNEP Oceans and coasts strategy.

UNESCO - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), sent out invitations to heads of various regions and government agencies in Australia, Canada, Japan/Korea, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA, Western Indian Ocean, IMO, and FAO to assist in nominating a knowledgeable and experienced expert in order to establish an international Technical Working Group (TWG) of 10 – 14 people who will develop the “UNEP/IOC Operational Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter”. Several nominations were received from the various countries/regions i.e. Australia, Japan/Korea, Republic of Korea, Sweden, USA, Western Indian Ocean.

Assisted and supported the preparation of the 9th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, held on, 29-31st October 2007, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Global Regional Seas Meetings, characterized by their enthusiasm, determination and productivity, constitute a real forum for dialogue, ex-change of experience and information, and developing joint responses to global challenges. Lots of expertise was shared from Climate Change, Ecosystem Management, Mainstreaming etc., while the Jeddah Declaration was adopted & the strategic directions agreed upon.

24. Guidelines on Marine Biofouling

Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) was supported towards the development of guidelines on marine biofouling. The guidelines will be developed by evaluating the extent of the biofouling problem and analysing the current management practices and protocols of National and Regional levels for the prevention and management thereof.

25. Marine Litter Problem in the North-East Atlantic Region

OSPAR Commission was supported towards the development of a project to assess the scale of the Marine Litter problem and its main sources in the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Maritime Area) and to set priorities for response. Final product of this MoU will be production of a document titled “Assessment of the Marine Litter Problem in the North-East Atlantic Region and Priorities for Response”.

26. Integrated Management of Marine Litter in the Southeast Pacific

Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur (CPPS) was supported towards the development of five pilot projects on environmental education to address the marine litter problem in the Southeast Pacific countries (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru), in the framework of the protocol for the Protection of the Southeast Pacific from Land-based Sources and the Regional Programme for the Integrated Management of Marine Litter in the Southeast Pacific. A document titled “Regional Programme for the Integrated Management of Marine Litter in the Southeast Pacific” was produced in both English and Spanish.

Permanent Secretariat to the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (BSC Permanent Secretariat) was supported to assist in the environmental protection and sustainable management and development of the Black Sea region through development of relevant activities in the framework of the Strategic Action Plan on Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (BS SAP).

28. Support and Services which the Coral Reef Unit (CRU) and WCMC

UNEP World Monitoring and Conservation Centre (UNEP-WCMC) was supported to facilitate and increase the support and services which the Coral Reef Unit (CRU) and WCMC provide to countries and international organizations in the implementation of international agreements related to the protection, conservation and sustainable management/use of coral reefs and mangroves; to complete a publication which contains a summary of the lessons learned, and preliminary guidance for the MPA system establishment; and to develop a manual on ecosystem approach on Regional Seas.

Regional Coordinating Unit of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CAR/RCU) was supported towards increasing public awareness on marine litter in the Caribbean region according to the developed draft Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP-MALI). Activities to be undertaken under this LoA included:- Preparation of an interactive regional web-based database on marine litter in collaboration with the ocean conservancy; Development and implementation of three pilot projects in three representative Caribbean countries and subsequent preparation of 2-3 national case studies; Support to Workshop in Discarded Fishing Gear in the Caribbean; and Support to the Ocean Conservancy and selected Caribbean countries for International Coastal Cleanup Campaign.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) supported to undertake activities of mutual interest that would assist Governments and national authorities, especially in developing countries, in the management and the protection of their marine and coastal environment. The following activities were to be undertaken under this agreement: a) National seminars on Ballast Water Management in the Wider Caribbean Region; b) Projects conducted under the auspices of the Office of the London Convention (LC) and Protocol (LP); and c) Revision of the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency to the Abidjan Convention, whose revision will be carried out in full cooperation and consultation with UNEP and with the Secretariat of the Abidjan Convention.

The Secretariat of the Basel Convention, was supported to facilitate the organization of a regional workshop in the Mediterranean and Arab States on environmentally sound management of used lubricating oils and the environmentally sound management of used lead acid batteries (car batteries) in the context of the Basel Convention and of the RS and marine environment protection of the coastal ecosystems. This capacity building workshop was aimed at Governmental representatives from Mediterranean and Arab States in the region, with representatives from industry and the civil society.

32. Rules of Procedure & Financial Rules of the Action Plan for the Caribbean

The Regional Coordinating Unit of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CAR/RCU) was supported as contribution towards organization of a regional meeting of legal experts aiming at the finalization of the Rules of Procedure and Financial Rules of the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and the Cartagena Convention. In accordance with the approved Terms of Reference of the Drafting Group, it shall draft one set of Rules of Procedure and one set of Financial Rules and recommend both documents to be considered for approval at the next Intergovernmental Meeting of the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme (IGM) and Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention.